Method of treating adhesive-coated fabric.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW TI-IOMA, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO PLYMOUTH RUBBER COMPANY, OF STDUG-HTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

METHCD OF TREATING ADHESIVE-COATED FABRIC.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it kn'ownthat I, ANDREW THOMA, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of ric, and is particularly designed for use in connection with the manufacture of fabric reinforcing leather inner soles, such as the Gem inner sole. As is well known, in the manufacture of such articles it is now common to employ fabrics such as duckfor can- Vas coated on one side with an adhesive coating which, iii its normal or cold state, can be readily handled without inconvenience, but when properly treated by methods including the use of heat becomes very tacky or sticky so that it can be placed upon the leather of the inner sole, or other substance and will thereupon adhere thereto with great tenac ity. The present invention provides a novel method for treating or conditioning such adhesive coated fabric by means of superheated steam so that the fabric is given exactly the I right condition for adhering to an irregular surface, such as that of the inner sole.

In order to secure the best results it is necessary that not only the adhesive coating 1 coated fabric is treated by the use of water there is a tendency to wash the sizing or starch out of the fabric, thus to an extent weakening the body or substance of the fabric which it is desired to have in the com I .pleted article; It is also necessary that the -inner sole shall be thoroughly dried before being used or the cloth will be mildewed or rotted. Such drying requires not only time but a considerable amount of space. When the adhesive coated fabric is treated by the use of dry heat alone the fabric does not always have that degree of pliability which is desirable.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 7, 1911.

Application filed November'S, 1910. Serial No. 591,398.

By the method of the present invention the fabric is conditioned or treated by passmg superheated steam against the fabric upon the uncoated side. This may be done by any suitable form ofapparatus, but there is shown in a' companion application, Se. No. 563,471, filed May26, 1910, by me, a ,preferred form. of apparatus for carrying out the method. The fabric. is preferably passed through a closed chamber apertured to allow the entrance and exit ofthe fabric, and the fabric runs with its uncoated side against a perforated wall o f'the chamber. The superheated steam is passed through the perfora-' tions against the uncoated side of the fabric, and the result is that the adhesive coating is thoroughly softened up, or conditioned, beglnning next to the fabric itself and exteiading to the surface of the coating. These coatings are usually formed ofcheaper and, consequently, less 'tacky substances next 'to the fabric, while the substances or layers at the surface are more readily rendered tacky. By the use .of this. method the coating where it permeates the fibers and interstices of the fabric is thoroughly softened and the entire massof the coating is softened by the steam so that the maximum degree of adhesiveness is secured. The starch or sizing is not re moved from the fabric so that the fabric is rendered pliable by the softening up of the coating embedded therein and of the sizing, so that the fabric becomes very-flexible.

-' The nature of the invention will appear more fully from the description and will be particularly pointed out in the claims It IS unnecessary to describe in detail the' adhesive coated fabric to be treated because that is Well known, and the composition of the coating varies more or less as to its i11- gredients, although having the same general characteristics; viz., that when cold it is capable of being'easily handled and when heated it becomes tacky or sticky. Moreover, as already noted, the coating is usually formed of successive layers, those nearerv the fabric being of a cheaper and less tacky quality, while the top layer is usually largely composed of gutta percha which is rendered extremely tacky or sticky upon the application of heat.

The method of this invention may be carried out by the use of any suitable apparatus and is not, therefore, dependent upon any particular form of apparatus. A-suitable and preferred form' of apparatus is shown ing in its cold or normal condition allowing thorough softening up of the coating, not only in its moisture is discharged into the air, or con- Correctipns In Letters Patent No. 983,32 7.

in my application already referred to.

The fabric to be treatedis usually in the form of a narrow strip four or five inches in Width and rolled up, the adhesive coatthe fabric tobe rolled without adherence of the layers. The steam may be superheated in any desired manner so long as it is in a dry and highly heated condition when it is directed against -the fabric; In other Words, it should not be carrying moisture but should be in the form of a dry, hot vapor. The, steam may be passed against the back or uncoated s1de of the fabric directly, and the fabric may be supported in any suitable manner but, as before stated, the fabric preferably passes. throu h the closed chamber with its uncoated si e resting against a perforated wall of the chamber and entirely. covering the perforations in the wall, and the steam is directed u through the perforations against the fabric. The resultof this method is, as stated, that the fabric is thoroughly conditioned, both the coating and the fabric portion itself, and this conditioning taking place from the uncoated toward the coated side insures'the mass itself but that portion of the coating extending into the fibers and interstices of the fabric. The steam being kept at a high temperature very little vapor arises during the operation so that no annoyance is caused to the operatives carrying V out the method and no material amount of densed outside of the apparatus employed.

line 30, after the word but the word Signed and sealed this 7th day of March [mania] I name to this specification,

Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may con form to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

A comparatively smallamount of steam is suflicient and is found thoroughly to condition the'fabric.

The process is not to' be limited to the -treated. If, for example, a heavy or stiif fabric is being conditioned it may be desir- -able to'inoisten it first with cold. or warm Water or other liquid, according to particubefore subjecting it to thebut any such previous treat-' lar conditions, present process, ment is but auxiliary anddoes not effect the results secured by this process- Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of conditioning adhesive coated fabric from the uncoated to the coated side which consists in directing. superheated steam agalnstv the uncoated side of the fabric.

2. The method of conditioning adhesive coated fabric from the I uncoated to the coated side which consists in passin the fabric through a closed chamber and in directing superheated steam against the un' coated side of the fabric while inclosed within said chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREWV THOMA.

Witnesses:

LEONA CHANDLER, FREDERICK S. GREENLEAF.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 983,327, granted February 7 1911, 1 upon the application of Andrew Thoma, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for an improve- 'ment in Methods of Treating. Adhesive-Coated Fabrics,. errors appear in the printed specification requirin'gieorrection as follows: Page 1, lines 8-10, the clauses F in connection with the accompanying drawing and like characters on the drawing repre seating like parts should bestricken out; same page, line 9, the comma after the word specification should be stricken out and a period inserted instead; page 2,.

e'n should be, inserted; and that the said aom au'ssz'oner of Patents.

in the presence of p and preferred form' of apparatus is shown ing in its cold or normal condition allowing thorough softening up of the coating, not only in its moisture is discharged into the air, or con- Correctipns In Letters Patent No. 983,32 7.

in my application already referred to.

The fabric to be treatedis usually in the form of a narrow strip four or five inches in Width and rolled up, the adhesive coatthe fabric tobe rolled without adherence of the layers. The steam may be superheated in any desired manner so long as it is in a dry and highly heated condition when it is directed against -the fabric; In other Words, it should not be carrying moisture but should be in the form of a dry, hot vapor. The, steam may be passed against the back or uncoated s1de of the fabric directly, and the fabric may be supported in any suitable manner but, as before stated, the fabric preferably passes. throu h the closed chamber with its uncoated si e resting against a perforated wall of the chamber and entirely. covering the perforations in the wall, and the steam is directed u through the perforations against the fabric. The resultof this method is, as stated, that the fabric is thoroughly conditioned, both the coating and the fabric portion itself, and this conditioning taking place from the uncoated toward the coated side insures'the mass itself but that portion of the coating extending into the fibers and interstices of the fabric. The steam being kept at a high temperature very little vapor arises during the operation so that no annoyance is caused to the operatives carrying V out the method and no material amount of densed outside of the apparatus employed.

line 30, after the word but the word Signed and sealed this 7th day of March [mania] I name to this specification,

Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may con form to the record of the case in the Patent Oflice.

A comparatively smallamount of steam is suflicient and is found thoroughly to condition the'fabric.

The process is not to' be limited to the -treated. If, for example, a heavy or stiif fabric is being conditioned it may be desir- -able to'inoisten it first with cold. or warm Water or other liquid, according to particubefore subjecting it to thebut any such previous treat-' lar conditions, present process, ment is but auxiliary anddoes not effect the results secured by this process- Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. The method of conditioning adhesive coated fabric from the uncoated to the coated side which consists in directing. superheated steam agalnstv the uncoated side of the fabric.

2. The method of conditioning adhesive coated fabric from the I uncoated to the coated side which consists in passin the fabric through a closed chamber and in directing superheated steam against the un' coated side of the fabric while inclosed within said chamber.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my two subscribing witnesses.

ANDREWV THOMA.

Witnesses:

LEONA CHANDLER, FREDERICK S. GREENLEAF.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 983,327, granted February 7 1911, 1 upon the application of Andrew Thoma, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for an improve- 'ment in Methods of Treating. Adhesive-Coated Fabrics,. errors appear in the printed specification requirin'gieorrection as follows: Page 1, lines 8-10, the clauses F in connection with the accompanying drawing and like characters on the drawing repre seating like parts should bestricken out; same page, line 9, the comma after the word specification should be stricken out and a period inserted instead; page 2,.

e'n should be, inserted; and that the said aom au'ssz'oner of Patents.

in the presence of p Corrections in Letters Patent No. 983,327.

It is hereby certified that in Letters Patent No. 983,327, granted February 7, 1911,

7 upon the application of Andrew Thoma, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, for an improvement in Methods of TreatingAdhesive-Coated Fabrics, errors appear in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 1, lines 8-10, the clauses in connection with the accompanying drawing and like characters on the drawing representing like parts should be-stricken out; same page, line 9, the comma after the wor specification should be stricken out and a period inserted instead; page 2, line 3Q, after the word but the word'z'n should be inserted; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Ofiioe.

Signed and sealed this 7th day of March, A. D., 1911.

[any] E; B. MOORE,

Omnmz'ssioner of Patents. 

